Heel protector for ladies&#39; shoes



F. E. MILLER.

HEEL PROTECTOR FOR LADIES SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1920.

Patented May30, 1922.

PATENT OFFICE.

i IETLORA E. MILLER, 01? SPARTA, ILLINO IS.

HEEL PROTECTOR FOR LADIES SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 34 1922.

Application filed May 1, 1920. Serial No. 378,277.

To (1/! 1c]: 0221 it may concern:

lie it known that I. From. E. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sparta, in the county of Randolph and State of Illinois. have invented a new and useful lleel Protector -for Ladies Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to heel protectors, and is especially designed for the heels of ladies shoes.

'lhe heel of a ladys shoe, especially the base thereof, is constantly exposed to a rubhing action upon the floor of a motor vehicle, and. often slips off of the accelerator rest. thereby marring the surface of the heel, especially the rear and side surfaces. oftentimes beyond repair and particularly wooden heels which are covered with a thin and delicate leather covering. and. it is therefore, an object of my invention to provide a neat, inexpensive and practical elastic protecting means to be detachably applied to the heel of a ladys shoe to protect the same from being marred. scratched, or otherwise defaced in any manner while driving a motor vehicle.

A further object-of my invention is to provide the protector with strap members provided with a plurality of snap fasteners so that the article may be made to properly lit over high. or low insteps and securely hold the main body of the protector in contact with the rear and side faces of the heel and yield to conform to the contour of the heel. owing to its elasticity, thus providing a protector which will fit all styles of heels, such as French. military, etc.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel design, arrangen'ient and combination of parts hereinafter described and finally pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawmgs forming a part of this specification wherein like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1. illustrates a shoe of the conventional type. in side elevation, to the heel of which is applied a protector constructed in accordance with my invention, said proteclor being held in position by'being strapped around the ankle, as shown.

Fig. 2. is a plan view of the protector in a llal and extended position.

Fig. 3. is a view in elevation, looking at the edge of the article in its extended tionl 4 In carrying out the aim of my invention, I employ a heel protector consisting of the mam elastic body portion 1 having a suitably curved upper edge 2. The lower edges 3 of the main body portion converge to a point, designated 4:, at the transversal center line of the main body portion 1.

A short suitable strap member 5 from one end of the main body portion 4 and is provided with a plurality of suitable snap fasteners 6 spaced apart atsuitable intervals.

A relatively long suitable instep strap 7 extends from the opposite end of the main body portion 1 and is provided at the end thereof with a suitable snap fastener receiving button 8.

The main body portion ll of the protector is adapted to serve as a protection for the rear and side surfaces of the heel 9 of a ladys shoe and is especially designed for use while driving a motor vehicle, or merely riding in the front seat thereof.

The heels of ladies shoes are usualy covered with a thin covering of leather ll), especially wooden heels, and aluminum heels are usually lacquered and it is to protect these delicate surfaces of ladies, heels from being marred. or injured by coming into rubbing contact with the floor of a vehicle that my heel protector is to be applied to the heel of the shoe in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The strap members 5 and 7 are arranged in longitudinal alignment with the center of the main body portion 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, so that when the protector is applied to a heel, the pulling strain from the straps will be more, or less equally distributed to cause the main body portion 1' of the protector to conform to the contour, or shape of the rear face of the heel, as is manifest.

The protector is preferably made from elastic material, such as rubber, and. may be made of any quality desired.

In applying the protector to the heel of a shoe, it will be observed. that the main body 1 thereof fully covers and protects the rear and side surfaces of the heel and that the long strap member posiextends l passes over the instep so that the snap fastener receiving button 8 can be fastened to any one of the snap fasteners 6, as is manifest, for securely lioltliing the protector in position upon the It will be observed that owing to the elasticity of the main body portion 1, that the protector is practical, and adaptable for use in connection .with any style of ladies shoe heel, whether French, military, or any other style and whether wooden,'aluminum, or leather.

It is evident from the foregoing description that the. protector is quickly and easily applied to a' heel and readily removable, and that the same can be folded up owing to its substantially flat formation iwhen extended, thus permitting it to be easily car ried in a pocket of the wearer, or placed in any convenient place in the motor vehicle when not in use upon the heel of the shoe.

A heel protector as herein described will be readily appreciated by any lady who drives a motor car, or even rides in the front seat thereof, as the rear surface, especially at the base of ladiesshoe heels is very easily marred, or injured, and in many instances beyond repair, due to the rear or side surfaces" coming into rubbing contact with the floor, or sash of the vehicle.

The heel protector can be made in pairs, right and left,if desired, to protect both heels, or they can be made in rights only, if desired, to protect only the right heel which is constantly exposed. to rubbing on the floor of the vehicle, and, especially when the heel slips from the accelerator rest.

I do not wish to be understood as having limited myself to the details of construction shown and described, but desire to have it understood that the invention I have shown in the drawings is merely illustrative, as it is manifest that various minor changes may be made in the exact construction and particular arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention,

hence I reserve the right to make any such changes or modifications as may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claim when fairly construed.

What I claim is:

A heel protector for ladies shoes compris ing a thin fiat strip of elastic material having a central body portion having a conveXed upper edge and having its lower edge converging to a point midway the ends of said body portion, one end of said central body portion terminating in a short narrow strap member, a plurality of snap fastener heads fixed to said short strap member, the opposite end of said central body portion terminating in a long narrow strap member and a snap fastener button fixed to the free end of said long strap'member adapted for locked. engagementwith any one of the snap fastener heads of the short strap member to securely hold the protector in position upon the heel of a shoe.

In testimony whereof, signed my name to the specification.

FLORA E. MILL-ER.

I have hereunto 

